GenArt Sets '98 Dates; Rothstein Assumes Role as Producer

Preparing for their third annual event, organizers of the GenArt FilmFestival recently named Jordan Rothstein the festival producer. The sevenday, seven film, seven party film festival will be held from April 29 – May5, 1998 in Manhattan.

In Park City last week, as part of the festival’s film selection process,Rothstein and others also hosted a party aimed at creating interest in theupcoming festival. The combination of films and fiestas have become atrademark of the GenArt Film Festival. In a conversation with indieWIRE,Jordan Rothstein confirmed that the agenda for ’98 remains unchanged —seven feature and short films will be screened this year, followed onceagain by seven “after events” that Rothstein hopes will reflect the moviesthey follow.

Organizers hope to again open the festival at Sony’s Lincoln Squaretheater, according to Rothstein, although final arrangements have not yetbeen made. The remaining screenings will be held at New York’s DGA theaterin midtown. The submission deadline for the 1998 event is February 15th,and the final lineup will be selected by a committee that includesRothstein, film festival director Deena Juras, and director of programmingGraham Leggat. Organizers plan to showcase seven films in screenings thatwill be world, east coast, or New York City premieres, according toRothstein.

“Being that we have a premiere structure each screening is very special,”Rothstein told indieWIRE, “a very special event for the filmmaker and theaudience.” Among the films that Rothstein singled out as recent festivalsuccesses are 1996’s “The Darien Gap” (directed by “Next Stop Wonderland‘s”Brad Anderson), and 1997’s “Eye of God,” “The Last Big Thing,” and “Day atthe Beach.”

[For more information on the GenArt Film Festival call 212/290-0312, orvisit their website at www.genart.org]